(0633) Morning all … again, genuinely, that really is the time:

Late this morning as I had to write a long letter and now must gather, redact, post below. Might be 0700 before starting. If I ramble on in an op ed, the ulterior motive is firstly that the comments thread is interesting this morning … and secondly that I prefer DAD or Steve to be items 2 and 4 … it gets them off the foot of the page and into more prominent places in the post, plus I like opening with a big item, half a page for example … items 1, 6, 11 are the ones.

 

2. DAD at 1500

a) France. In recent weeks, fishermen have blocked oil depots and port entrances in the south of France, while farmers have staged demonstrations over rising fuel prices. Fuel is set to become a major political flashpoint, just seven months away from France’s elections.

With seven months to go until France’s presidential election, fuel is becoming a major political flashpoint. Spiralling energy prices have stoked public discontent, amid a global fuel-supply shock, driven by the conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

b) EU. Some €2 trillion: That is roughly the size of the European Commission’s eye-watering budget proposal for 2028 to 2034, unveiled on July 16, 2025. It is more than 60 per cent larger in nominal terms than the present long-term budget, or Multi-annual Financial Framework.

Unsurprisingly, national governments are pushing back hard.

c) China Seizes F-35 Parts after UPS reroutes shipment to Hong Kong.

Critical F-35 stealth fighter components were diverted to Hong Kong instead of the United States after a UPS shipment from Australia was mysteriously rerouted, giving China access to classified military technology.

d) The UN. Argentine president Milei tells UN that it has become a ‘useless organisation’ feeding ‘fatally arrogant parasites’.

He added the “gender agenda, environmental extremism and unchecked immigration”, along with Agenda 2030.

e) Former White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, claims Donald Trump once started “ripping into” Keir Starmer for his “stupid” policies at a lunch in the UK, where he demanded Starmer closed the borders and carry out deportations.

1. Some sort of op ed

… also posting screenshots of interest. Firstly:

And this:

And this:

In the early 2000s, my darling heart said to me, “You’re going to end up old and alone.” I had been looking at a Chinese prognostication too which had said: “Old, alone and in pain.” Charming.

And yet, I’m poised for dental work any moment which will half break the bank, not to mention a charmed run with heart slowly coming to an end. Plus the bank folded. Charming again. In short, I see the end of the tunnel and am not fussed about that, being of a ✝️ian persuasion.

What to do in the meantime? Well a certain techie has set up a system, called HQ, and it did not come into existence by miracle … or maybe it did. He said to me … and what? Are you going to drop all that’s been set up, up sticks, drop a domestic HQ as well, with your curious idea of a liveable homelife? (In as many words, mind you, not exactly in those words … he’s Pedant General, this guy).

There’s also this thing, based on the Blues Bros idea of “a mission from God”. Who’s to say it’s not? Within a short time, my feeling is that Them is going to shut down all such exchanges as those in the screenshots above … yours too. I’m thinking we must hold onto what we have whilst we still can, finding “workarounds” to counter all their increasing attacks on us, always remembering:

That’s my thinking, which is pretty obvious stuff whether it was me who thought this or someone else. There is loyalty to you too, the patrons, readers, occasionals … how many near free exchange blogs with intelligent comments are now remaining … a thousand in the English speaking west? Wot, I’d abandon y’all?

Given my deteriorating health, held in check for now, slowed down by good food and exercise, plus the grace of God, what is the wisest course at this moment for every one of those remaining bloggers out there? Read no more nor less into this please, dear reader … juss thinkin’ out loud.

END for now as I have to get posting/.